No. 2 seed Alabama softball powered past No. 7 seed Arkansas 7-1 in Thursday's SEC softball tournament quarterfinals, advancing on four home runs.
The Crimson Tide erased an early deficit, eventually pulling away behind home runs from Audrey Vandagriff, Hannah Wells, Alexis Pupillo, and Ambrey Taylor. Arkansas finished its SEC tournament run at 42-11.
Arkansas grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Tianna Bell scored on a passed ball after advancing on a two-base error. However, Alabama answered immediately, as Vandagriff launched a solo shot to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
The SEC softball tournament quarterfinal shifted decisively in the fifth inning. Wells crushed a two-run homer to give Alabama a 3-1 lead, while Pupillo followed with a solo blast on the next pitch to make it 4-1. Arkansas reliever Saylor Timmerman then limited further damage with a strikeout.
Alabama added three insurance runs in the sixth. Taylor opened the frame with a solo home run to center field. Wells drove in another run with a single before an Arkansas fielding error plated the final run.
Alabama ace Jocelyn Briski (21-2) earned the complete-game victory, allowing one unearned run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Arkansas starter Robyn Herron (15-6) took the loss despite striking out eight in 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits.
Tianna Bell, Dakota Kennedy, and Kailey Wyckoff produced the only hits for Arkansas. The Razorbacks await their NCAA regionals assignment, set to be revealed on Sunday's NCAA Softball Selection Show at 7 PM ET (ESPN2).
Where to Watch Alabama in the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament
Alabama softball now faces No. 3 seed Florida in the championship semifinal. The 2026 SEC softball titans take the mound on Friday at 5 PM ET, live on ESPN.
